Michael Cohen Helped Jared Kushner In Gowanus Deals, Report Says

GOWANUS, NY — The longtime personal lawyer for President Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, helped Jared Kushner broker a multimillion-dollar deal to get him into the Gowanus market, the Real Deal reported.

Cohen helped put the sale of a $72.5 million lot at 175-222 Third St. together between the president's son-in-law and the site's seller in 2014, with the Real Deal reporting that Cohen's personal ties made it easier for him to secure the deal.

"I think it helped that Kushner had an ally," a source told the Real Deal.

Kushner Companies, where Kushner served as the CEO until he joined President Trump's administration, bought the 140,000-square-foot site along with LIVWRK and SL Green Realty with hopes to build an apartment building, the Real Deal reported.

The proposals were fought by local elected officials and eventually the groups sold the lot, across the street from Whole Foods, to RFR Realty for nearly $120 million in April, Crain's reported. It ended the only partnership between SL Green and Kushner's company.

In 2014, Cohen was hired by the then lots owner, developer Herbert Chaves, to get offers for the property with Kushner's team putting in the highest bid, the Real Deal reported.

Chaves later used some of the money from the sale of the Gowanus lot to buy four apartment buildings in Manhattan to Cohen's companies, Bloomberg reported.

Cohen's business deals have been under investigation by federal prosecutors since April when F.B.I. agents raided his office and seized records, emails and documents, the New York Times reported.

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